Community
22 November, 2023
It’s no flight of fancy
AN $88 million plan to expand the general aviation precinct to the eastern side of Cairns Airport has been revealed to include a large hangar, a unique simulator and short-term accommodation.
It forms a submission to the Queensland Government for next year’s state budget and prior to the state election.
The submission includes:
A $45 million investment to develop a 10,000sq m common-user hangar, addressing the pressing need for new, expanded facilities.
Cairns Airport will invest more than $25m in preparatory work including the first stage on the eastern side of the airport involving 250,000 cubic metres of soil to raise the area above sea level, aircraft stands, roads, and other utilities over the next 12 months.
An $8m Cessna Caravan simulator, the first in Australia and outside of the USA, to train pilots. There are about 30 Cessna Caravans in the Far North and 150 in Australia. Cairns-based Mission Aviation Friendship (MAF) International operates 30 throughout the world with more on order.
Short-term accommodation involving $10m for quality housing within the eastern precinct to address critical demand, specifically for students, because of the rental crisis in the Far North.
The eastern precinct would also be the airport’s helicopter base for all rotary engine aircraft including emergency rescue aircraft. The submission has been developed by Advance Cairns in conjunction with Cairns Airport, Skytek, MAF International with input from Central Queensland University, Cairns Aviation Skills Centre and MiHaven. It is expected the other organisations involved will also invest in the precinct.
Advance Cairns chairman Nick Trompf is confident of acquiring the necessary funding following the organisation’s success with the common user facility and the Cairns marine precinct which has drawn tens of millions of dollars from state and federal governments.
Advance Cairns chief executive Jacinta Reddan said the initiatives would, not only enhance the general aviation sector, but also strengthen Cairns’ position as a national and regional hub for specialised aviation training.
Airport chief executive Richard Barker said economic data showed that Cairns’ aircraft manufacturing and repair services sector added $36m to the regional economy per annum, and provided more than 370 direct jobs.
The broader general aviation sector contributed $88m and more than 900 jobs, underscoring its pivotal role in the region’s economic landscape.
“The new common-user hangar would unlock much-needed capacity to maintain and repair fixed wing and rotary aircraft, benefitting existing operators across the precinct and positioning Cairns as a national leader in this sector,” he said.
